The sacraments of Christian initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist - lay the foundations of every Christian life. "The sharing in the divine nature given to men through the grace of Christ bears a certain likeness to the origin, development, and nourishing of natural life. The faithful are born anew by Baptism, strengthened by the sacrament of Confirmation, and receive in the Eucharist the food of eternal life. By means of these sacraments of Christian initiation, they thus receive in increasing measure the treasures of the divine life and advance toward the perfection of charity." (CCC 1212)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that "through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn" as children of God. (CCC 1213) For both infants and adults, "faith must grow after Baptism...For the grace of Baptism to unfold, the parents' help is important. So, too, is the role of the Godfather and Godmother, who must be firm believers, able and ready to help the newly baptized — child or adult — on the road of Christian life.” (CCC 1254-1255)
Parents seeking to have their child baptized should complete the baptismal registration form; please contact the parish office and our pastor will contact you to discuss the details of your child’s baptism.
“At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of His Body and Blood. This He did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us’.” Sacrosanctum Concilium
Children in grade 2 in our CCD program prepare for the Sacrament of First Eucharist. First Eucharist Mass is celebrated usually in early May of each year. If you have a child older than grade 2 who has not received the Sacrament of First Eucharist, parents should call the religious education coordinator to make arrangements for this instruction.
In order to receive the sacrament of Confirmation a student should have recieved their other sacraments of initiation, complete their 8th grade of education, attend the Cor Christi Intitute for 1 week offered at the University of Mary (usually late in the month of July) and meet requirements prior to the Confirmation ceremony. Contact the parish office for more information.
Jesus healed people physically, but also emotionally and spiritually. Ultimately, Jesus brought healing to the whole universe as he “reconciled the world to himself” (2 Cor 5:19) through his death and resurrection. Since then, the Church has continued Jesus’ healing ministry. The Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it this way: “The Lord Jesus Christ, physician of our souls and bodies, who forgave the sins of the paralytic and restored him to bodily health, has willed that his Church continue, in the power of the Holy Spirit, his work of healing and salvation, even among her own members. This is the purpose of the two sacraments of healing: the sacrament of Penance and the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick” (1421).
As part of the sacrament of Penance it is important to make a good examination of our conscience. To assist in this process a link is provideed below:
Guide for Confession & Examination of Conscience
Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist are sacraments of Christian initiation. They ground the common vocation of all Christ's disciples, a vocation to holiness and to the mission of evangelizing the world. They confer the graces needed for the life according to the Spirit during this life as pilgrims on the march towards the homeland. (CCC 1533)
Two other sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony, are directed towards the salvation of others; if they contribute as well to personal salvation, it is through service to others that they do so. They confer a particular mission in the Church and serve to build up the People of God. (CCC 1534)
Through these sacraments, those already consecrated by Baptism and Confirmation for the common priesthood of all the faithful can receive particular consecrations. Those who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders are consecrated in Christ's name "to feed the Church by the word and grace of God." On their part, "Christian spouses are fortified and, as it were, consecrated for the duties and dignity of their state by a special sacrament." (CCC 1535)
If you have questions or would like help discerning a call to the priesthood or religious life, please contact our pastor at Sacred Heart or the Vocation Director at the Diocese Bismarck.
"The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament." Can. 1055
If you are planning to be married at Sacred Heart, you will need to contact our office (734-8131) well in advance of the wedding date. A couple desiring marriage are to complete their initial session of marriage preparation at least nine months in advance of the scheduled wedding date.
Our pastor will help you focus on the Sacrament and the grace you will receive by discussing the Church's theology of marriage. He will help you plan your wedding celebration so that the elements of the ceremony are appropriate for a Catholic wedding. Our pastor also will provide you with guidance and information that will help you comply with the guidelines for weddings celebrated at Sacred Heart.
Our pastor can also put you in contact with our parish director of music who can provide assistance with musical selections, accompanists, and vocalists. Sacred Heart social hall is also available for rehearsal dinners and receptions.